Herkimer County CSEA workers OK new contract

Herkimer County Civil Service Employees Association workers approved a new four-year contract on Tuesday.

Kim Dunne

Herkimer County Civil Service Employees Association workers approved a new four-year contract on Tuesday.

The contract passed by a two-to-one majority and covers 2006 through 2009.

The approval of the contract follows a previously rejected contract offer and picketing by CSEA workers.

The previous contract for CSEA workers expired Dec. 31, 2005.

“We are very pleased that the union approved (the contract) last night,” County Administrator Jim Wallace said. “It's very important to get some money into the hands of the employees.”

The union had been asking for a 3 percent increase in wages for 2006, but workers compromised at a 1 percent increase added to the workers base salary plus a one-time stipend of $500-$800 dependent on annual salary in 2006. For 2007, 2008, and 2009, workers will receive a 3 percent annual wage increase.

“The workers, our members, went two years without a contract and wanted that 3 percent increase for 2006 to match what other employees throughout the county got for 2006,” CSEA Communications Associate Mark Kotzin said. “But the county was not willing to give them that.”

Kotzin added that offering a percentage wage increase plus a stipend for 2006, the agreement is an improvement over the offer workers previously rejected in August.

A neutral mediator assigned by the state recommended that the tentative agreement be brought back to the CSEA workers for their vote.

“I was very concerned that (the contract) might not pass,” Wallace said. “I thought when they voted the last time that it was going to go through.”

“It passed, but as far as workers being satisfied with it, I wouldn't go that far,” Kotzin added.

Also included in the contract is an increase in the health premium contributions for employees who have selected “employee plus one” coverage.

“Health insurance is one of the biggest issues for these employees,” Kotzin said. “We still need to work together to find some savings for both the workers and the county.”

The county Legislature will vote on the contract on Nov. 14 and Wallace says he's pretty sure it will pass.

“I know some union members probably aren't happy with this contract and some Legislature members aren't happy, which means the contract is pretty good for both parties,” Wallace said.

“This contract is a very long time in coming,” Kotzin said. “It would be nice if the county valued their workers more and showed it by voting on on time contracts and approving it across the board.”